# ID this animal based on the sound it makes **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 24, 2017, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-animal-based-on-the-sound-it-makes/780648 "2017-02-24T18:12:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-animal-based-on-the-sound-it-makes/780648/1 "2017-02-24T18:12:30Z")
For the last few nights, there’s an animal that makes [this](https://soundcloud.com/user-280943055/riveranimal) rather loud yapping noise. It starts around 9pm or so, and stops around 11pm or so. It goes on non-stop, except for a break every few seconds. It sounds kinda like a bird, but I don’t know too many birds that make noise at night. (It’s not an owl, as you will hear). This is in Eagle Creek, Oregon, on the Clackamas River. It sounds like it’s across the river, maybe 20 yards or so. I recorded this last night at about 10pm. (Quality is not great, I recorded it with my phone). The river has beavers, river otters, various birds and such, but I don’t really know what this could be. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-animal-based-on-the-sound-it-makes/780648/2 "2017-02-24T18:25:35Z")
It sounds like a frog to me, but it is probably rather cold for frogs at this time of year. ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-animal-based-on-the-sound-it-makes/780648/3 "2017-02-24T18:33:23Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > (It’s not an owl, as you will hear). Actually, my first guess is a [saw-whet owl](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Saw-whet_Owl/id). ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-animal-based-on-the-sound-it-makes/780648/4 "2017-02-24T20:07:37Z")
> [@Twoflower](#): > > Actually, my first guess is a [saw-whet owl](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Saw-whet_Owl/id). That sounds pretty close! I’m going to go with that unless someone has a better idea. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-animal-based-on-the-sound-it-makes/780648/5 "2017-02-24T21:52:04Z")
Almost certainly a saw whet owl. [This clip](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzfXf_2kU5M) sounds almost exactly like yours, even down to the pitch. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-animal-based-on-the-sound-it-makes/780648/6 "2017-02-25T01:39:15Z")
[Moderating] I’m guessing this was meant for General Questions, not Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-animal-based-on-the-sound-it-makes/780648/7 "2017-02-25T01:44:14Z")
Sounds good for Northern Saw-whet Owl to me. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-animal-based-on-the-sound-it-makes/780648/8 "2017-02-25T01:47:33Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > (It’s not an owl, as you will hear). A lot smaller owls make piping notes like a Saw-whet rather than hooting like a Great Horned Owl. [Barn Owls](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwG15rXTdCI) sound like banshees. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-animal-based-on-the-sound-it-makes/780648/9 "2017-02-25T02:52:04Z")
OP’ “It’s not an owl!” Posters: “It’s an owl.” Ugh 🙂